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2 boys booked in failed burglary at mall; 3rd teen cited

Three teenagers have been accused of plotting the burglary of a Mesa Mall store early Tuesday with the use of a two-way radio and cellular phones, authorities said.

Two boys, both 16, were arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary, conspiracy and theft and are being held at Grand Mesa Youth Detention Center, according to Grand Junction police.

A third boy, the suspected getaway driver, was issued a summons on suspicion of conspiracy and being an accessory to a crime, police said.

The third boy was reported to police around 1 a.m. as being someone suspicious. He was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked on the east side of the C&F gas station at 25 and Patterson roads, leaning back and talking on his cell phone, according to an arrest affidavit.

When contacted by officers, the boy said he was waiting for his mother to pick him up and seemed nervous, the affidavit said. An officer saw a two-way radio, which was turned on, in the passenger’s seat.

“As we were talking to (driver) his cell phone continued to ring,” the affidavit said.

While talking with the driver, the officer determined that two teenagers, the 16-year-old boys, were inside Target, 2424 U.S. Highway 6&50. Police believe the boys were waiting inside the store for cleaning crews to leave so they could steal merchandise, the affidavit said.

Officers had surrounded the store by the time the boys emerged from the east side near Target’s pharmacy. They were carrying items valued under $500, the affidavit said.

One of them fled through the parking lot, crossing F Road, before he stopped in the parking lot of U.S. Bank, 2448 F Road. He was arrested at Taser point, the affidavit said.